Arthur stood staring at Pyp confused, he had made his way up the ladders when he heard more sounds of fighting beyond the wall. He watched as the well dressed man push his sword into the small boy and proceeded to taunt Pyp. Before he could do anything Pyp's arm moved in a flash as he rammed an ornamental dagger into the man's heart. They both just stood there for a moment staring at each other. Arthur dashed over to him calling out his name, he grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from the dead man.

"Pyp are you hurt," said Arthur frantically checking him for wounds.

Pyp barely moved under Arthurs intense inspection, his eyes were fixed on the body of the boy who lay dead on the floor. Blood was pooling around the cobbles, the carnage here was a frightening display and Arthur knew Pyp was adverse to such things. Weak arms tried to push past and Arthur allowed it, right now wasn't the time for questions. Pyp stood above the body and looked down, Arthur couldn't see his face but he seemed upset by the sight. After a while Arthur moved over to Pyp and reached up to put a hand on his shoulder. "Come Pyp let us leave this cursed place," said Arthur, he was relieved to find Pyp unhurt.

The night began to fade and soon dawn would break, they would need to leave the city soon so they could make the most of the daylight. Pyp hadn't moved since Arthur spoke to him.

Eyes still on the boy he slowly shook his head , "This is all her fault, she ordered Erit to pursue us, she managed to corner us in the gatehouse. All these deaths are on her head. And I will not allow that to go unpunished" said Pyp his voice dripping with hatred.

In all the years he had known Pyp he never heard a voice sound like that, he hadn't know Pyp was capable of such malice. Finepoint had changed him.

"No Pyp, I've only just found you I won't have you going off and getting yourself killed," said Arthur trying to turn Pyp to face him.

He was shrugged off.

"Tell me this Arthur, would you say the same if it were my brothers? My father?" he asked still staring at the corpse. Arthur didn't respond, truthfully he wouldn't and Pyp knew that. "I'm no less of a man than any of them, I don't need others to fight my battles and I will not run" said Pyp turning to face Arthur, "I will not" his face betrayed no emotion.

No thought Arthur, this wasn't the job he wasn't here to fight some ancient horror and neither was Pyp.

"Arthur I thought I told you to stop runni-" said Els, she turned the corner and saw the carnage. She froze and looked hard at the scattered corpses, "What happened here, these are not possessed" said Els.

"An outlaw company working in aid of the witch of Finepoint," said Pyp, "Lady Weimaer, what are you still doing here."

Only when he spoke did Els seem to notice Pyp, "Sire," she bowed. "I chose to remain, Finepoint is the city of my birth and it pains me to see it laid low. I aim for the Baron's keep to rid the city of the witch who caused this."

"Then we are of the same mind Lady, I too wish death on this witch," said Pyp with cold detachment.

Arthur would not allow this, the high prince would have his head if he found out, "Pyp think about what you're suggesting we haven't any means of assaulting the keep, Els already tried it with a large force and was easily repelled," said Arthur trying to reign in the angry prince.

"I am the prince Arthur, and you are sworn to obey me," spat Pyp finally losing his patience, "And you will call me sire."

Arthur knew he was beaten, for all the time he had guarded Pyp he had never called him sire. Pyp had grown, he even looked more like his father, he walked straighter and spoke more confidently.

Arthur gave him a small bow, "As you wish sire" he said, it would do him no good to argue more.

"You might want to get that looked at Arthur," said Els indicating to the bloody bandage wrapped around his face.

"Yes at once lady" he said automatically.

Arthur made his way back to the gate and slowly dismantled the makeshift defences, he opened the gate and allowed what remained of their small band of warrior women inside.

"It's safe Mira don't worry," said Arthur as she hesitated upon seeing the dead bodies.

"It doesn't feel very safe," muttered one of the women who walked with a noticeable limp.

Els came to stand by Arthur, "We've done it ladies, we have taken the gatehouse," Els paused as if expecting a cheer.

"My Lady I think we all just want some rest, we can save celebrations for the morning," said Arthur, Els gave him a strange look when he addressed her as 'lady'. She nodded as the women filed inside to rest and tend their wounds.

"What's this Arthur we must be away now," said Pyp as he stomped over.

"Sire they are in no condition to continue, we need to rest for what remains of the night," said Arthur.

"I'm not tired Arthur and if I can continue so can they," said Pyp. "I will allow them a moment here, but we will be moving before night breaks."

Pyp was true to his word, after less than a half hour they were headed toward the keep. Pyp led the column with Els who guided him through the streets. Arthur stood behind them aiding an injured woman in walking across the uneven cobbles. This is madness, a forced march to our certain death, Pyp's newfound confidence will get us all killed. Despite this Arthur felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, he no longer had to ask himself difficult questions, he could let Pyp and Els lead and he would follow. It had been the same for his entire life, ever since he was a boy he was a follower. First a camp follower then a soldier and now a bodyguard, it allowed him to focus on his strengths and leave his weaknesses to others.

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"Arthur, you will need to organize the woman into a fighting force, if the keep is as well guarded as you say then we will have to fight our way through," said Pyp.

"Sire I have some thoughts on that, the number of city watchmen and the baron's own guard was not large before the fall and with the number we have dispatched thus far it is likely there are few possessed left to guard the keep," explained Els.

"The Baron had so few men, how is that possible he was ordered to maintain a large force," said Pyp.

"He was in severe debt to bankers at the capital, he didn't have enough money to pay for the soldiers the High Prince ordered him to raise," said Els.

Arthur listened and offered no response, talk of money was almost always followed by politics he thought and he had no interest in such things.

The state of Mira and her followers was becoming dire, some looked dead on their feet and Mira had long since lost the will to beg Pyp for time to rest. It was turning midday when they approached the Baron's keep, to Arthur surprise there was not a body in sight, as if the battle fought there only a day before had never happened.

"Where are the bodies," said Els staring hard at the ground. "We killed hundreds of them here, where have they gone."

"Who knows, this has been happening all over the city," said Pyp. They came up to the front gate of the keep. It seemed larger and more imposing than the last time Arthur laid eyes on it, the studded wood seemed impenetrable.

"We need to get through that door," said Pyp rapping his fist against the wood, Arthur noticed him wince in pain as he hit an iron stud. As he hit it the gate slowly creaked open. Arthurs sword was out in an instant and pushed Pyp behind him, two of the Baron's own stood in the large entrance. Neither of them raised their weapons at the small group, their faces were hidden behind closed helmets. After a tense moment they both stood aside.

"I think they are inviting us in," said Pyp taking a cautious step forward, Arthur was going to stop Pyp from entering but he thought better of it and pushed forward. The guards were unnaturally still, they would be hot in all that armour but neither of them fidgeted or even blinked.

"Where is the lord's hall," Pyp asked Els as he pushed past Arthur.

"This way sire," said Els.

She sounded unsure and her eyes lingered on the frozen guards. Pyp tapped his foot on the ground impatiently, Els slowly pulled her gaze from the possessed and strode into the baron's keep. Arthur followed with the rest of the women in tow, Grace snarled at the possessed and Mira shuffled along with a blank look on her face. The keep was richly decorated, lush Vilnese carpets lined the dark wood hallways, golden tapestries were hung on every wall. Arthur could only just make this detail out in the darkness, all of the candles which lit the halls were extinguished and there were few windows to let the days light shine in.

"Is this the best idea, we have no idea how many of them there are in here sire," Arthur finally said, he could no longer hold his tongue.

Pyp glared at him, Arthur couldn't help but see the scared boy he met two years ago.

"I've had enough of your complaining Arthur, you know why we are here. You will not offer any more advice is that clear," said Pyp, his eyes sparkled in defiance. For all his childish looks he was still a prince and Arthur was sworn to obey, he simply lowered his head in a slow nod.

The further the got into the keep the more clear it became why the Baron had such large debts. Gilded busts of stern, regal looking men lined a hallway. Another had numerous animal heads mounted on the wall, they looked to be rare and exotic beasts that lived far from the High Kingdom. Arthur hated every moment he spent in that place, the extravagant wealth gave him a headache. The group walked in subdued silence, even Grace seemed unnerved by this place thought Arthur. Els slowed down as they came upon a large dark wood door.

"This is it, this is the Baron's hall," she said.

Pyp pushed forward toward the door, his hand shook as he tried to push open the door. He struggled to move the heavy door and was soon red from the effort.

"Arthur, get it open," wheezed Pyp finally giving up.

"At once sire," said Arthur through gritted teeth.

The door slammed open and Arthur rushed in his sword held high, the long hall was empty except for two figures by a throne which seemed to be made of solid gold.

"The Baron Wenceslas," said Pyp as his eyes adjusted to the gloom, "And his witch."

Arthur wasn't so sure about that, the baron's chin was to his chest and he barely stirred. The witch was a frightening sight, she stood beside the baron's throne, shiny black hair flowed down to her knees and a beautiful white gown hugged her lean frame. She's otherworldly thought Arthur, her glassy eyes glowed a dark yellow like torches in the dark hall. Nothing was said as they approached the Baron's dais, Arthur's heavy boots clicked on the hard floor breaking the tense silence.

Pyp stepped forward and said, "Baron Wenceslas, I am Prince Pyppin Mawson son of High Prince Godwyn Mawson and I am here to sentence you for crimes against the kingdom".

Pyp's voice was high and shrill, it had lost its previous authority when faced with the witch's glare.

"Young prince, the Baron is feeling unwell I doubt he would survive a trial," said the witch, Arthurs shivered as she spoke in her sweet voice.

"He won't stand trial, he has already been judged guilty and I am here to carry out his punishment," said Pyp.

The witch laughed gently. "He is all yours." She gently pushed him off the throne and he crumpled into a heap on the floor.

Els gasped and Pyp's eyes went wide.

"Well my prince, won't you save me from this terrible man," said the witch. Her tone had changed, it was harder than before and lost all of its sickly sweetness. Pyp began to step up to the golden throne.

"What are you doing Pyp get away from her," said Arthur stepping forward and reached out to grab him. A familiar oily sensation ran down his back and he was frozen in place. His entire body was held in an invisible grip he couldn't open his mouth to scream at Els to stop him. How had he broken this grip before? Sheer will? He had little of that left to summon.

The witch reached out for Pyp as he got closer, her long fingers ended in razor-sharp nails. Arthur had failed, the witch had enchanted Pyp and there was nothing he could do. Or was there. Arthur was suddenly light and the witch's spell was broken, he heard faint laughing from every direction. The witches head snapped around to look at him, her mouth twisted into a snarl. Before she could dig those nails into Arthur dived forward and pulled Pyp away from the throne and swung his sword into the witch. It passed right through her and smacked against the wall behind, Arthur lost his footing and tripped over the corpse of the baron. The witch screamed at him as he fell, Arthur sat on the throne confused before he felt an intense burning sensation above his heart. Arthur screamed in pain, he looked down and saw a green glow from under his armour. Pyp was dazed as the witch's spell wore off, Arthurs screaming focused him.

"Arthur what's happening", Arthur couldn't answer, he could barely see through his tear-filled eyes.

"NO," he heard Pyp shout followed by the sound of a blade cutting through thin air. The faint laughing filled the hall again.

"Arthur, I'll not forget that name," hissed the witch. And then there was silence.

Arthur struggled to his feet. As he rose from the throne there was no strength in his legs and he fell to his knees.

"Arthur," gasped Els dashing up the dais, "What happened to you."

Every breath was agony for Arthur, "My chest," he wheezed grasping at his breastplate. Els helped him undo the straps on his armour, every touch sent sharp pain through his ribs. When he stripped to the waist it was clear a strange symbol was burned on the flesh over his heart.

"Where is the witch," said Pyp.

It was a mountain surrounded by thorny vines, Arthur brushed his fingers over the wound and it bled.

"We need to wrap it in a bandage," said Mira, the rest of the group were stood looking up at them.

"Where is the Witch! She cannot be allowed to escape," shouted Pyp.

"How can we catch her when swords pass harmlessly through her body," said Arthur, "She played her little trick and failed, she has likely fled the city", the pain began to fade away as Arthur head went fuzzy.

"Arthur. Arthur!"

Was the last thing he heard before slipping into the blackness.